Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 6: Four persons including an Army soldier were killed and 44 others injured. when a private passenger bus skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in forward area Mendhar Division of district Poonch today.
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Official sources said that the mishap took place when the ill- fated private passenger bus bearing registration number JK02AX-1671, which was on its way to Mendhar from Gani village, near the LoC in Balnoi forward area, went out of control in the morning around 9.30 am and rolled down into a deep gorge at Khorh Darra in Tehsil Mankote.
The eye witnesses said that the condition of this border road is worst and the driver lost control due to gravel spread on the road and the vehicle rolled down into nearly 200 feet deep gorge, resulting into the death of four and injuries to nearly 44 passengers.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed their grief over the accident. Omar sent his Cabinet colleague and MLA Mendhar, Javed Ahmad Rana to the scene to supervise the rescue and relief operation.
Locals immediately launched a rescue operation and were joined by police, Army and CRPF personnel. All the injured were removed to Sub District Hospital, Mendhar.
The officials identified the deceased as 45-year-old Mohd Majeed, 55-year-old Shakeela Begum and 50-year-old Mohd Haneef of Ghani village and 60-year-old Noor Hussain of Kasblari. Majeed, a soldier posted in Assam, had come to his village in the area on leave.
Hussain and Majeed were found dead on the spot by the rescue team members, while Shakeela Begum died on the way to GMC Hospital, Rajouri and Haneef succumbed during treatment at GMC Rajouri, the officials said, adding the condition of seven more injured persons was stated to be ‘serious.’
Block Medical Officer, Mendhar, Dr Ishfaq Choudhary said that five critically injured persons will be referred to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital, Jammu for specialised treatment.
“We mobilised all the 15 ambulances on getting information about the accident and the injured were shifted from the scene with the active assistance of police, CRPF, Army and local volunteers,” the BMO said.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident.
“Pained by the loss of lives due to tragic road accident in Poonch. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for a speedy recovery of those injured in the accident,” he said.
The Chief Minister also expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift and complete recovery of all those injured in the accident.
“Immediate directions have been issued to ensure the best possible medical care and full support to those affected. I have also requested (minister) Javed Rana to visit the site and personally oversee the relief efforts,” Omar said in a post on X. Earlier, Minister for Jal Shakti and Forest Javed Rana said the government will provide all necessary support to the accident victims.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic bus accident. I have spoken to Divisional Commissioner Jammu and instructed him to ensure immediate assistance, including airlifting critically injured to GMC Jammu. J&K Government will provide all necessary support to those affected,” Rana said in a post on X before leaving for Poonch.
Later, Javed Rana accompanied by Additional DC Rajouri, Dr Raj Kumar Thappa visited GMC Hospital at Rajouri and inquired about the health of the injured passengers shifted there. He assured all possible help to the accident victims. Thappa said that two seriously injured patients were later shifted to GMC Jammu.
The seriously injured accident victims undergoing treatment at GMC Rajouri are Parvez Akhtar, Mohd Shafiq, Javed Iqbal, Mohd Ashraf, Saima (9 yrs) daughter of Mohd Liaqat, Hadiya (3 yrs), daughter of Mohd Azim, Nazia, Abdula Hamid. Javed Iqbal-II and Tasleem Akhtar-all residents of Gani village.
SSP Traffic Jammu Rural, G L Sharma said that the bus was under load. Out of the total injured, 5-6 victims are children below the age of 10 yrs. The bus is 2012 model and its fitness certificate is up to November 2025. Some mechanical failure is said to be the cause of accident. He, however, said that an FIR has been registered in this connection. The driver escaped from the spot and the police was looking for him.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Vikas Kundal who also serves as the Chairman of the District Road Safety Committee, has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh each for the families of the deceased. This compensation will be disbursed from the Road Safety Victim Fund, an official spokesman said.
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